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St George Greek Orthodox Church Parish Community Shepparton, 195 Knight Street, Shepparton (2026)

20/06/2026

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW
johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/07/discovery-of-holy-icon-of-panagia.html

The Discovery of the Holy Icon of Panagia Eleousa in Xyniada of Domokou in 1962

(Feast Day - June 21)

Mercy flows O Eleousa,
From your icon and is given to us from the earth.
On the twenty-first the Icon of She Who Is Great With Child From God appeared in the earth.

The First Appearance of the Theotokos to Athanasios Syros

The terrible earthquakes that shook Thessaly on 30 April 1954, the feastday of the Life-Giving Spring, are unforgettable to its oldest inhabitants. This day was particularly memorable for the villagers of Xyniada, and even more so for Athanasios Syros, who saw with his very eyes the Most-Holy Theotokos.

Athanasios Nicholas Syros was eight years old then, and while playing on Friday afternoon along with other children on the mountainside, he saw in front of him a barefoot woman dressed in black doing prostrations. And while the ground at that spot was dry, the prostrations made by this unknown woman dressed in black made the ground soft and it sank like dough. At the three points where this unknown woman made these prostrations, the place exuded a sweet fragrance.

Then young Athanasios told the other children: "Children, look at the grandma doing prostrations." He called her grandmother because she wore black clothes, like almost all the grandmothers in the villages wear. None among all the other children could see her however. Then the kids went running to the villagers to announce what Athanasios saw, so they could quickly come to confirm the event.

Indeed Athanasios repeated for them that he saw an unknown woman doing prostrations at the same area. The villagers could not see anything and asked him insisting to tell them where he was seeing the woman dressed in black. Though the young Athanasios repeated the same to them, they could not see anything. All they could discern was the smell of a sweet fragrance emanating from the point where the little boy said that he saw the unknown woman dressed in black doing prostrations.

The Second Appearance of the Theotokos in Athanasios' Sleep

That same night the unknown woman made her appearance in Athanasios' sleep, who slept next to his parents on one side and his other siblings on the other. This time she had a bright crown on her head and he was a little bit frightened, asking her: "Grandma, who are you? And what do you want from me? I am afraid!". And then the black dressed woman told him: "Do not be afraid, young one, I am the mother of the infant Christ, Whom you love so much, and He sent me to reveal to you that you have a clean heart and pure soul, and that at the central point you saw me marking, they should dig there and my icon will be found. That spot shall become a place of worship, and a church is to be built, a holy place." With these words the Panagia disappeared from before young Athanasios.

In the morning Athanasios told his family in detail about the second appearance of the Theotokos and begged them to dig at the spot mentioned by the Panagia.

The Reactions of the Villagers

Unfortunately, the reactions of the villagers were not favorable for the young Athanasios. Nobody could believe everything he narrated was true, and many times they browbeat him away with insulting phrases! Such is always done by people who do not believe. Approximately the same was done to the Lord, Who said: "Blessed are you when they insult and persecute you and speak against you any evil thing ... Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12).

All these reactions of the villagers however were unable to shake Athanasios. He gathered stones and built himself a small chapel where the Panagia indicated. There he placed a small icon of the Panagia, and he would go there every day, morning and evening, to light the oil lamp and pray to the Most-Holy Theotokos. In his constant entreaties to dig there at the spot indicated by the Panagia, at one point some villagers gave in. These actions, however, were isolated and without any effect.

Eight years of indifference by the villagers passed, but this stopped when a deadly disease befell the animals of the village. They began now to think seriously whether the illness of their "livelihood" was God's punishment for their lack of faith shown to the words of Athanasios. They began to make supplications to the Theotokos to forgive them and exempt them from the evil which befell them. Thus the death of the animals was the cause of the villagers to return closer to God.

The Discovery of the Sacred Icon of the Panagia

In early June of the year 1962 a bulldozer came to Xyniada to dig open the streets of the village. The residents then begged the operator, that upon finishing the digging, to help dig at the spot mentioned by Athanasios as suggested by the Panagia where her icon was to be found. The operator of the machine, however, named Elias Saltas and came from the village named Stavros Lamias, did not want to dig and even reacted violently to the persistent requests of the villagers.

Then stepped up another resident of Lamia, Spyros Houliaras, an official of the Ministry of Finance who had heard from his mother concerning the appearances of the Panagia. Mr. Houliaras heard of the reactions of the driver, and called a meeting of the leaders of the community, namely the president of the village, the teacher, the priest, the police and the church council, and together they went and asked the operator, whom they eventually convinced.

The machine began to dig and remove soil at the indicated spot and everyone had gathered, waiting anxiously. The operator after the first and second trench had no result. He began to blaspheme and tried a third time without success again. The machine stopped. Then the policeman who was close saw next to the blade of the machine near the root of an oak the icon of the Panagia.

What happened at that point is indescribable. Everyone who was there fell on their knees and venerated the holy icon of the Panagia and asked with tears in their eyes for her grace. Some ran and struck the bell to alert the other residents who were in the fields. Others ran and embraced the sixteen year old Athanasios and asked him to forgive them for their contempt and unbelief. The machine operator fell in tears, venerated the icon, and begged the Theotokos to forgive him. It is said that by resorting to the grace of the Panagia, with a warm faith, he was healed of a stomach ailment from which he was tormented until then.

The Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos

The miraculous icon of the Panagia was hidden at a depth of a meter and a half for centuries. It is small and bears the inscription "Mother of God Eleousa". According to expert opinion, the icon seems to belong to the era of iconoclasm. It remained in the soil however so many centuries without anything wrong with it. When the grace of God wills, the destructible becomes indestructible and the mortal immortal.

Today the icon of "Panagia Eleousa" is covered with silver and gold and placed in a beautiful shrine. The offerings of the faithful who are troubled and receive grace decorate the entire surface of the icon.

The Katholikon and the Cells

The pious pilgrims offered whatever they could for a small church to be built to serve the spiritual needs of the faithful who resorted to the Panagia. The chapel was built, and at the root of the oak, where they found the icon, they placed the altar.

This small church however could not serve the needs of the ever increasing pilgrims. That is why Metropolitan Damaskinos of Fthiotida in November 1965 laid the foundation for a larger church, which with the assistance of the faithful pilgrims ended in August 1966. Athanasios, now known as Father Athanasios, secured by personal efforts to complete the construction of the church. He loved this project so much that he built a magnificent Monastery. The dome and walls of the church were frescoed. In the eastern part of the Monastery was built the Abbot's residence and a few cells. The Abbot is Fr. Athanasios.

Consecration of the Church

The day of consecration was 21 June 1972, ie, the same day they found the icon. On June 21 Great Vespers was celebrated by the then chancellor and now the former Metropolitan Agathonikos of Mesogaias and Lavreotiki. The next day the great celebration of the consecration by Metropolitan Damaskinos of Fthiotida took place, accompanied by many priests and before a large number of believers.

The Holy Shrine celebrates twice a year: on the day of the discovery of the icon on June 21, and on August 15 for the celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

MIRACLES OF THE THEOTOKOS

Healing of Demonic Possession

Lemonia Kokkini, from the village Agrapidia of Domokou, in the year 1963, became demon possessed at mealtime. The demon constantly annoyed her and would not calm down. Her parents, desperate, having brought her to many doctors, called on the Panagia Eleousa. The girl did not speak but made inarticulate cries. During the night a change in behavior was witnessed and the girl after a few days became absolutely tranquile. The event became known throughout the region, and the people ran to the miraculous icon of the Panagia to offer thanks. (From the newspaper National Struggle of Lamia, 3 January 1963).

Healing of Blindness

From the village of Xyniada in Domokou, the son of Vaios Polymeros, named Stavros, at dinner became blinded. His parents were astonished by what happened and placed their hopes in God. They grabbed their blind son and went to our Panagia who is Great in Grace. A Supplication Service took place and towards the end of it vision returned to the child. The parents, wanting to thank the Panagia, dedicated to the Monastery the gate of the garden.

The Greatest Gift of Heaven

Two childless married couples from Karditsa, whose surnames were Giannakis and Kafetzis, begged the Panagia to give them children. They asked the Abbot of the Monastery to pray a Supplication Service for them. The Abbot blessed them, and told them that the Panagia will do the miracle. The following year the two couples, holding their children in their arms, went to the Panagia to thank her and have them baptized. From then till now over 1,500 couples have sought assistance to bear children, and all baptized their children in the Monastery.

She Saved Her Monastery From Fire

Several years ago, a pilgrim left a lit candle in the church. The Abbot, forgetting the lit candle, locked the church. As the candle burned, it reached the point where it was attached to the candelabra and fell down, so it started burning the carpet. At midnight the Abbot, while sleeping, heard knocks on the window and a voice saying: "Wake up, the church is burning." Immediately he ran to the church, and he fought the flames alone, extinguishing the fire without seeing anyone beside him. It was the Panagia who informed the Abbot and saved the Monastery from a sure fire. The burnt carpet still exists.

They Were Guided By A Bird

Pilgrims from Athens heard about the discovery of the icon and decided to visit and to venerate. Arriving at the 22nd km after Lamia, they did not know where to go. Then in front of the driver who was in despair, there appeared in front of the bus a black bird, which showed him the way to the Monastery until the gate of the enclosure. Then the bird disappeared. All the pilgrims proclaimed the miracle of the Panagia and still proclaim it today.

The All-Night Vigil Which Brought A Miracle

From Ambelia Farsala two couples came to give thanks for the grace they received by attending an all-night vigil. The first couple had a child on whose cheek was seen an incision that reached up to his mouth. The diagnosis by the doctors was cancer. The believing parents brought the child to the Monastery for the vigil. While the child was asleep, he was healed. Waking in the morning his mother saw that the cut was gone.

The second married couple from the same village had a deaf-mute girl. Her mother constantly prayed to the Panagia and finally in desperation said: "My Panagia, either give her a voice or take her, as I cannot see her suffer."

The Panagia did the miracle and the girl spoke. The first word she said was "mama" ("mom").

An Incurable Illness

Panagiota Psihogios from Agia Paraskevi of Lokridos, now residing in Athens, confesses the miracle of the Panagia who cured her of cancer.

Chants From Heaven

The miraculous icon was found in 1962. The church started being built in 1965. North of this was built a temporary hut with three rooms. In one lived the Abbot, in the other builders, and in the third was placed the icon along with the sacred vessels. During the night the workers heard noises, censors and chanting coming from the room where the Panagia was kept. They became very frightened and wanted to leave before finishing the building of the church. The Abbot reassured them and told them not to fear because the chants were coming from the Panagia. This strengthened their faith and they remained until the completion of the church.

Always Close To Her Children

A resident from Karditsa told the Abbot that for three nights a woman with black clothes took him and brought him to a big door. The third time he found the courage and asked her where she was leaving him, and she replied "at the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Eleousa in Xyniada of Domokou."

Care of the Panagia For the Monastery

Entering the Main Gate of the church, to the right, surrounded by balusters for safety reasons, is kept the Holy Icon. Due to lack of money there wasn't a door for the balusters. Then the Panagia appeared to Mr. Karahalios, a resident of Lamia, and asked him to go fix the door. Surprised Mr. Karahalios asked to know which Monastery, and she replied "at the Sacred Monastery of Panagia Eleousa in Xyniada of Domokou."

Note:

The above text was based on the book by Archimandrite Panteleimon Poulos, preacher of the Archdiocese of Athens' "Holy Monastery of Panagia Eleousa".

The miracles were recorded by the theologian Dr. Sophia Tsagkali from narratives by the Abbot and pilgrims on August 18, 1998.

To date, there have been countless miracles.

Monk Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis composed a Divine Office to commemorate this miraculous discovery.

Apolytikion in the First Tone
Your divine icon Eleousa All-Immaculate one, hidden under the earth, you wondrously revealed, wherefore the pious of Xyniada, fall down before it all-reverently, gathering the gifts of your grace, and with longing cry out: Glory to your wonders Pure one, glory to your goodness, glory to your consideration towards us O Lady.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Your divine icon, we celebrate together spiritually, singing hymns O Virgin to your grace, and from our souls O Theotokos we cry to you: You are the refuge of the faithful.

Megalynarion
In your venerable Icon does the village of Xyniada truly rejoice, O Maiden, and take recourse in it; receiving endless strength, and mercy and grace, the faithful glorify you.

https://pantokrator.gr/en/mount-athos/monastic-state/miraculous-icons

15/06/2026

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW
johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/06/synaxarion-of-saint-tychon-wonderworker.html

Synaxarion of Saint Tychon the Wonderworker and Bishop of Amathus

(Feast Day - June 16)

Destroying and completely smashing Tychon fled,
Gaining life and rejoicing in indestruction.
On the sixteenth Tychon went to dwell beneath the earth.

Saint Tychon flourished during the reigns of Arcadius (383-408) and Honorius (395-408). Having pious parents who loved Christ, they dedicated him to God and he learned sacred letters. After sufficiently studying Holy Scripture, at first he became a Reader, and in the church he would read the divine words to the people. Then due to the suitableness he had in all things, as well as his pure and blameless life, he was ordained Deacon by the most-holy Bishop Mnemonios of Amathus. After he died, Tychon was elevated to the throne of the diocese, by the great Saint Epiphanios of Cyprus. Thus by the words of his teachings he turned many from the error of idolatry to the faith of Christ. He destroyed many pagan Greek temples, and the idols within he crushed. With such eminent virtuous actions, he departed to the Lord, having worked many miracles while he was alive as well as after death, of which I will narrate one or two of them below, to demonstrate the virtue and holiness of this divine man.

When the Saint was a youth, his father who was a bread-seller would give him some breads to sell to buyers, but he, instead of selling them, would give them away to the poor. When his father learned of this, he became enraged, because from this job he would produce the income for his household. Tychon would say to his father, that he was letting God borrow the breads, and that he had written testimony of what was owed that it was received by God. And O the miracle! - immediately the words of the Saint became true and practicable, for the granaries of his father were found to be full of wheat, more than they could fill when the wheat was brought from the plantation. This miracle, although great, has been done by other Saints as well. The All-Good God is not absent from giving wheat to people, and His other good things, so that people would richly distribute alms to the poor.

His biggest miracle, which we only see this Saint glorified by, and has no resemblance with any other, is the following. The Saint planted a vine, which was found to take root, and immediately sprouted leaves, then bloomed, then produced grapes, and these grapes were ripe and sweet. In which other area of Cyprus are ripe grapes produced on the 16th of June, which is the day the commemoration of the Saint is celebrated? None, of course. This strange thing takes place in the following manner. The vine planted by the Saint has unripe grapes when the Divine Liturgy begins on the feast of the Saint, and then the unripe grapes of the vine begin to blacken and ripen. When the Divine Liturgy is completed, then the grapes become ripe, sweet and serviceable to eat.

Apolytikion in the Third Tone

God called thee to the sacred priesthood, as a worthy servant of the Holy Trinity. Thou didst shine with the grace of godliness, and strengthen the Church by many miracles. O Venerable Tychon, pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion in the Third Tone

Thou wast resplendent in asceticism, O beloved of God, and didst receive power from the Holy Spirit, to destroy idolatry, put demons to flight, to save souls and to heal the sick. We honour thee, O blessed Tychon.

Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 16/06/2026

Saints and Feasts: Tychon the Wonderworker; 40 Martyrs of Rome; Mark the Just of Apollonia

Fast Day (Fish Allowed)

Epistle Reading: St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 7:14-8:2

Brethren, we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:9-15

The Lord said to his disciples, “Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of S***m and Gomorrah than for that town.”

15/06/2026

On the feast day of Saint Peter the Athonite, known as the first hermit of the 🏔️Holy Mount Athos, here are 9 facts you need to know about this place.

13/06/2026

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW
johnsanidopoulos.com/2011/06/holy-prophet-elisha.html

Holy Prophet Elisha
(Feast Day - June 14)

The Holy Prophet Elisha lived in the ninth century before the Birth of Christ, and was a native of the village of Abelmaum, near Jordan. By the command of the Lord, he was called to prophetic service by the holy Prophet Elias (Elijah - July 20).

When it became time for the Prophet Elias to be taken up to Heaven, he said to Elisha, "Ask what shall I do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of the grace of God: "Let there be a double portion of your spirit upon me." The Prophet Elias said, "You have asked a hard thing; if you see me when I am taken from you, then so shall it be for you; but if you don't see me, it will not be" (4 [2] Kings 2: 12). As they went along the way talking, there appeared a fiery chariot and horses and separated them both. Elisha cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horse!" (4 Kings 2: 12). Picking up the mantle of his teacher which fell from the sky, Elisha received the power and prophetic gift of Elias. He spent more than 65 years in prophetic service, under six Israelite kings (from Ahab to Joash). While Elisha lived, he did not tremble before any prince, and no word could overcome him (Sirach 48:13).

The Holy Prophet worked numerous miracles. He divided the waters of the Jordan, having struck it with the mantle of the Prophet Elias; he made the waters of a Jericho spring fit for drinking; he saved the armies of the kings of Israel and Judah that stood in an arid wilderness by bringing forth abundant water by his prayer; he delivered a poor widow from death by starvation through a miraculous increase of oil in a vessel. The Shunamite woman showing hospitality to the prophet was gladdened by the birth of a son through his prayer, and when the child died, he was raised back to life by the prophet. The Syrian military-commander Namaan was healed from leprosy but the prophet's servant Gehazi was afflicted since he disobeyed the prophet and took money from Namaan on the sly.

Elisha predicted to the Israelite king Joash the victory over his enemies, and by the power of his prayer he worked many other miracles (4 Kings 3-13). The holy Prophet Elisha died in old age at Samaria. "In his life he worked miracles, and at death his works were marvellous" (Sir. 48: 15). A year after his death, a co**se was thrown into the prophet's grave. As soon as the dead man touched Elisha's bones, he came to life and stood up (4 Kings 13: 20-21). The Prophet Elisha and his teacher, the Prophet Elias, left no books behind them, since their prophetic preaching was oral. Jesus, son of Sirach, praised both great prophets (Sir. 48:1-15).

John of Damascus composed a canon in honor of the Prophet Elisha, and at Constantinople a church was built in his honor.

Julian the Apostate (361-363) gave orders to burn the relics of the Prophet Elisha, Abdia (Obadiah) and John the Forerunner, but the holy relics were preserved by believers, and part of them were transferred to Alexandria.

In the twentieth century, the humble priest Nicholas Planas had a great veneration for the Prophet Elisha, and was accounted worthy to see him in visions.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

The incarnate Angel, and the Prophets' summit and boast, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ our God, Elias, the glorious, from above sent down his grace upon Elisseus; he doth cast out sickness and doth also cleanse lepers; and unto all that honour him, he poureth forth streams of cures.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

A prophet of God didst thou become when worthily thou hadst been vouchsafed a double portion of God's grace as Elias' true companion, O Elisha, divinely-blest; and with him, thou unceasingly entreatest Christ God in behalf of us all.

The Reasons Why Elders Should Be Respected

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. One day the Prophet Elisha, whose feast day is celebrated today, entered the city of Bethel, whose inhabitants were drowning in wickedness. Their wickedness had reached such a point that fathers did not teach their children piety. A crowd of children met the venerable elder and began to laugh at his external shortcomings, and at the fact that he had no hair on his head. The children shouted after him: "Go away, bald one!" The Prophet Elisha looked at them with sadness and saw that there was nothing good in their hearts; he condemned their deed, and God confirmed the judgment of His Prophet. Two she-bears came out of the forest and tore the children to pieces. Forty-two of them perished.

II. The wrath of God, which, according to the word of the Prophet Elisha, destroyed the children who insulted the holy elder, the prophet, gives us, brethren, today the opportunity to talk with you about the reasons for which we should show respect and reverence to elders and, in general, to people older than us in age.

The reasons why elders should be respected are as follows.

a) Very often old age is a reward for piety and obedience to the will of God (Gen. 15:15; Isaiah 65:20; Zech. 8:4). For the mere fact that the blessing of God has rested upon the elders, expressed in their long life, they deserve our deep respect. Rudeness, disrespect and mercilessness towards the elders in the Holy Scriptures are placed among such manifestations of moral ignorance as are characteristic only of barbarian peoples and impudent and godless scoffers (Deuteronomy 28:50; Isaiah 47:6; Lamentations of Jeremiah 5:12; Wisdom of Solomon 2:10).

b) Elders deserve our deep respect also because God gave them long life to fulfill some important goals in serving God, the Church or the fatherland. Thus, the Prophet Elijah had already asked for death, but God showed him a new service for the good of the people of Israel (3 Kings 19:4). Those who perform good deeds aimed at the glory of God should be especially respected.

c) The long life of God-fearing people deserves respect also because it is extremely useful for their children and for posterity in general (Wisdom 2:10): their living examples of strict piety have a wide scope, are passed on to the most distant posterity (grandchildren and great-grandchildren). Righteous Job, after he became even more righteous, having endured terrible trials in life, lived a long time, and how long? Double the number of previous years, so that he saw children of the fourth generation - great-grandchildren (Job 42:16); in total Righteous Job lived 210 years, and according to 70 interpreters more. And even the fewer in the subsequent generation or only in a certain locality zealots for the spiritual and divine, the more the heavenly Provider supports on earth such pillars of faith and piety, which for this alone deserve deep respect.

d) Then there is a direct command to respect the elder, whoever he may be. The Lord through Moses commands Israel regarding how to behave in relation to elders: “You shall rise up before the gray head, and honor the face of the aged, and you shall fear the Lord your God” (Lev. 19:32), that is, whoever and whatever the elder may be, be polite and respectful to him.

e) Finally, reason tells us that since the younger generations are indebted to the older ones for both spiritual and material blessings of life, for this very reason the younger must respect and thank the older. The Holy Apostle Paul states: "Do not boast over the branches; but if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Do not be arrogant, but fear" (Romans 11:18, 20). "You are leaves, you are young buds on the branch, the branch on the limb, the limb on the trunk, the trunk on the root of the great tree of society and the Church," says His Eminence Nikanor, Archbishop of Kherson, addressing the young generation regarding these words. "Do not boast, weak leaf! Do not be wise beyond your years, young bud!.. You live while still completely relying on someone else's life, you draw, for now, entirely someone else's life juices. Reflect on all your good deeds that you have managed to accomplish from the day of your birth to the present. Nothing, or some insignificant chance, and that was rather directed towards your peers than for the benefit of the older generation. Look at it from the other side: this older generation has been nurturing, preserving, clothing, and raising you with its labor until today. Do not boast, light leaf, on the branches, in the gusts of fantastic self-conceit, that you will be better than us, or that you are already better than us. Live through our experiences, and then throw a stone of condemnation at us. And remember, your children will throw a similar, or even heavier stone at you. If you are to boast, remember that you do not carry the root; rather, the root carries you; let it burrow in the soil, in the depths, in the compost; while you, blown by the zephyrs of youthful imagination and still undisillusioned hopes, stretch toward the sun. You will not fly far. If you are destined to live as a whole tree, you will grow as a branch or even a trunk, similar to us. However, if you detach from the root, you will decay, and that is all... 'Do not strive for high-mindedness, but fear.' (See 'Words, Speeches, Conversations' by Nikanor, Archbishop of Kherson and Odessa, Vol. V, pp. 107-11).

Look the other way around: this older generation has fed, cared for, clothed and educated you with its labor until today. Do not boast on the branch, light leaf, in fits of fantastic self-thinking that you will be better than us, or that you are already better than us. Live as long as we have, and then throw a stone of condemnation at us. And remember that your children will throw the same, or even a heavier stone at you. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who bear the root, but the root of you; let it scurry there in the earth, in the shadows, in the humus; "And you, blown by the zephyrs of youthful fantasy and hopes that have not yet been disappointed, strive towards the sun... You will not fly far. If you are destined for the life of a whole tree, then you will go into the formation of a branch or even a trunk, like us. But if you are torn away from the root, then you will rot, and that's all... 'Do not be arrogant, but fear.'" (See "Words, Speeches, Conversations" by Nikanor, Archbishop of Kherson and Odessa, Vol. V, pp. 107-11).

III. There are many elders whom, either out of duty as superiors or out of Christian love, young people must admonish or restrain from any unworthy actions. But young people should act as gently and respectfully as possible even in relation to such elders. The Apostle Paul writes to the young Bishop Timothy: "Do not reproach an elder, but exhort him as a father, and older women as a mother" (1 Tim. 5:1, 2). If even those young people who have authority over elders should treat them with filial respect, then should not others be more respectful to them?

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

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20/06/2026

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